Homemade Shakes and Smoothies. What's yours?

[Chairman Mao]

Just picked up a blender. God knows why it's taken so long.

Just popped its cherry with a banana, milk, blueberry yogurt, milk and ice.

Pretty damn good Banana and Blueberry smoothie.

Have some mangoes in the fridge so might go for a mango & banana milkshake tmro. Maybe withsome honey?

Am also thinking of some vegetables... maybe carrot and ginger?

Anybody got some favourites out there? What fruits should I check out?

Cheers all. Happy blending to you.

[AntRobertson]

banana, milk, blueberry yogurt

That's pretty much what I have for breakfast every morning during the week.

[FailSafe]

On a related note, will the blender you picked up properly blend ice? I picked up a Hamilton Beach IG908 (the work-horse for bars in the States) for ~10K- pricey, but well worth it.

[deathstardan]

Funnily enough, I was looking at blenders yesterday in Big C. I may get a Moulinex for B3,000.

I wasn't sure about how good it would be with ice. I drink a smoothie a day. Any advice?

Banana and apple or orange, pineapple and lemon are my favourites.

[FailSafe]

Funnily enough, I was looking at blenders yesterday in Big C. I may get a Moulinex for B3,000.

I wasn't sure about how good it would be with ice. I drink a smoothie a day. Any advice?

Banana and apple or orange, pineapple and lemon are my favourites.

Sadly, most of the blenders in Big C/Tesco/etc. just aren't powerful enough to blend ice properly for a smoothie- it will either make it chunky or just seize up and burn out the motor...

The one I picked up (Hamilton Beach IG908 in Thailand for the 220v unit, or HBB908 for the 110v unit sold in the States) has a 3/8ths hp motor, and is made for commercial use- I bought it at "7/5".

Basically, if you're looking at a blender with more than a 2-position (high/low) setting it's probably for light home use won't do the job on ice/frozen fruit.

[S Landreth]

With the blender I purchased in Thailand, I have only used it to blend up a handful of cooked black beans to mix back into the black beans that haven’t been blended. It thickens up the black beans.

I don’t use a blender for my shakes (vanilla ice-cream, little milk, Hershey’s chocolate or an old banana). I mix them by hand,…..keeps it thick.

[the dogcatcher]

Nana, mango, coconut milk.
Add a drop of Bailey's at crimbo.

[Chairman Mao]

coconut milk... now we're talking.

the stuff from the carton's okay? I've only make curries with them, presume they're perfectly okay for drinking.

Re the ice... I blended everything first, then put in 4 ice cubes one at a time. No problems. Starting off with 4 cubes in there might have been a different story.

Ice-cream and chocolate... maybe withsome cookies. yum.

Anyone do anything slightly healthier? Like with vegetables? A daily carrot and apple and ginger juice would be healthy... But can the blender really do vegetable juice/shake.

[Spin]

I tend to go for the ready made syrups in strawberry/pineapple/grape etc.

Start with a little soda, add ice and syrup, then add more ice until the jobs done. Wack in a load of jelly chunks. If I'm feeling real naughty I'll add some brown sugar liquid into the mix also. These are great before my afternoon run, massive sugar rush.

[FailSafe]

^^^

Try blending actual frozen fruit (you can find it at most major markets in Thailand)- just stay away from stuff with tiny seeds (like raspberries) that tend to make the drink feel "gritty"- frozen fruit also blends more easily than ice.

[AntRobertson]

I just don't get the 'add ice' part. It's one thing I hate about smoothies/milkshakes here.

[FailSafe]

If you're making 'slushy' fruit smoothie (which is great on a hot day) you've got to use ice- I agree that a milk/yogurt-based shake doesn't need it.

[Bexar County Stud]

Sadly, most of the blenders in Big C/Tesco/etc. just aren't powerful enough to blend ice properly for a smoothie- it will either make it chunky or just seize up and burn out the motor...

Basically, if you're looking at a blender with more than a 2-position (high/low) setting it's probably for light home use won't do the job on ice/frozen fruit.

I bought an average-priced Philips blender (1,200-1,400 baht, can't recall exactly) at my local tesco, and it works fine. I use it almost daily to make smoothies and other kitchen duty.

A simple banana-chocolate smoothie is my go-to: Banana, milk, yogurt, ice, cocoa powder, a bit of palm sugar and dash of cinnamon.

[Spin]

I just don't get the 'add ice' part

It all starts to make sense when the thermometer hits 39

[baldrick]

vodka , tomatoes and pepper

[Muadib]

Banana, milk, chocolate flavored protein, a dash of fiber, ice cubes and let 'er rip... That's my breakfast every morning...

[jandajoy]

meat.... works well.

[Chairman Mao]

Went for carrot and apple, and carrot and mango juices. It just doesn't do them right though. Really need a proper juicer for the veges.

The banana, milk and yogurt (blueberry or strawberry) smoothies are bloody delish though. Will have to look at getting strawberries too.

Happy blending y'all.

[patsycat]

Tabasco, celery salt, tomatoe juice and lottsa vodka.